Process for deionizing and concentrating emulsions

A multistep process for deionizing and concentrating an emulsion containing a hydrophilic colloid comprising:

• 1) deionizing the emulsion and 2) adding an anionic polymer having a molecular weight between 10,000 and 500,000 which contains at least 5 mole % of monomers which contain an anionic group and is formed from one of the moieties, --OSO.sub.3 M, --SO.sub.3 M, --COOM, --OP(OM).sub.3, where M represents a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal atom, an alkaline earth metal atom, or a quaternary ammonium base, concentrating the emulsion by coagulating the emulsion by lowering the pH of the emulsion to between 2 and 6, separating the coagulum from the supernatant and resuspending the coagulum with hydrophilic colloid, water and base, wherein the polymer level is 2 to 50% by weight of the hydrophilic colloid present and the pH of coagulation is at least higher 0.1 unit or the polymer amount is reduced by when compared to the process practiced in the absence of the first deionization step.